windhover

English

Etymology

From wind +‎ hover, due to the bird’s habit of hovering by beating the wind with its wings; compare windfucker (attested earlier).[1]

Noun

windhover (plural windhovers)

  1. (British) The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). [from 1674]

Synonyms

Translations

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2025), “windhover”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
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